MANILA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Philippine troops killed six suspected members of the rebels in the central Philippines in a clash on Thursday, the military said.
The military said fighting broke out between the troops and the New People's Army (NPA) insurgents on Thursday morning in Negros Occidental province, lasting for 40 minutes before the rebels retreated.
No government soldier was killed or wounded in the clash.
The military said the troops recovered five M16 assault rifles, two AK-47 rifles, and an M653 rifle at the site of the encounter.
NPA rebels have been fighting government troops since 1969.
Military data showed that the NPA's personnel strength has declined since its peak of around 25,000 armed members in the 1980s.
Despite its dwindling fighters, the NPA continues to launch small-scale attacks in the countryside. ■
